Capital: Tunis Geography: Home to the {Romans/ Arabs/ Ottomans/ French} Economy: Diverse and strong (mostly TOURISM and agricultural (olives & dates), few OIL reserves! Independence: From France 1956 History: After independence, 2 rulers 1) Habib Bourguiba (secular ideas... but dictator!) Strong women's rights (free and compulsory education and abolition of polygamy) Low tolerance for Islamic extremists 2) President Zine al Abidine Ben Ali (1987 2011) CORRUPT President for 23 years! Arab Spring (Jasmine Revolution): Date FIRST COUNTRY TO PROTEST (Arab Spring starts here...) Dec 10th 2010 January 14th 2011 Cause Long term: Resentment at the dictator, corruption, unemployment, brutality of police... (El General Rais Lebled) Catalyst: Mohamed Bouazizi's public immolation (lit himself on fire) Results Longtime president fled to Saudi Arabia TUNISIA BECAME A DEMOCRACY! **elections Often considered the Arab Spring success story *But still failed economic reform policies // 40% youth unemployment // gap between rich and poor (coastal & inland) Government today: Republic (new constitution instituted in January 2014) President: Beji Caid Essebsi (as of 12/2014 in the country's first free and fair election! Next election, 2019) Opposition: Islamist Ennahda Party (defeated in national elections in 12/2014) Elections: 2014 election Islamists defeated! But Islamic extremism is still a huge concern. Secular Tunisian's worried about Ennahda Party still 1
Capital: Tripoli Economy: Main export Oil (discovered in 1959) Independence: 1951 from Italy History: Former leader Mummar al Qaddafi (began rule in 1969 by overthrowing the King) 42 years in power! *Made up own government Jamahiriya (mix of communism and capitalism) MQ Once considered a terrorist to West MQ Warrant for arrest during 2011 civil war by ICC Date February 2011 (First protests in Bengazi (HQ of Arab Spring)... led to CIVIL WAR which lasted for 6 months) Cause Saw successes in Tunisia and Libya/ unemployment/ Gaddafi in power for 42 years! *Third country in Arab Spring to successfully overthrow government Results Civil war from Feb. to July 2011 *International community: NATO, led by Italy and France, supported rebels with air strikes **Sanctions on Libyan oil *Gaddafi killed by rebels! (5 years ago 10/20/2016) Government today: Government collapse; UN involvement *2015: UN (UNSMIL) brokered power sharing agreement: Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) *Now: The Government of National Accord *Chief of State & Head of Government: Fayiz al Saraj (as of 12.2015) ISIS: Captured Gaddafi's coastal hometown in Sirte 2
Capital: Manama Economy: Oil and banking Strong economy, but large gap between rich and poor! First ME country to discover and build oil refineries Close ties with the US today Independence: Not colonized by Europe, but British protectorate (1861 1971) History: Al Khalifah family has ruled since 1783 [Sunni ruling family] Sunni minority rules over a Shi'a majority Government Type: Constitutional Monarchy in 2002 Leader: King Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah Date: Began February 14th, 2011 Causes: *Success in Tunisia and Egypt *Shi'a majority oppressed by Sunni ruling family *Corruption, in need of Constitutional reform! Protests: *Most happened in PEARL SQUARE Destroyed during revolution *Female poet: Ayat Al Qormezi *2011: Gave $2,650 to each Bahrani family in attempt to end protests *2014 Government debate on more rights for citizens suspended, but still sporadic clashes between people and King Result/ Gov't today: NO MAJOR CHANGES! *Shi'a more frustrated with Sunni monarchy *Ongoing dissatisfaction 3
Capital: Sana'a Economy: Poorest country in the Middle East!!! (no oil wealth) THUS, a huge base for Al Qaeda//terrorism!!! Independence: North Yemen from Ottoman Empire in 1918/ South Yemen from UK in 1967 North: Traditionalists/tribal South: Marxist (communist) History: North and South were unified in 1990, since 2 civil wars ('94 & '99) Former President Ali Abdullah Saleh (was in power for 33 years/ formerly lead Northern Yemen) Date: Began in Jan 2011 Cause: Started because of the success of Tunsia and Egypt, unemployment etc. Result: Long time president Saleh stepped down! Government today: War between: *Forces loyal to the internationally recognized government of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi (Sunni), as of 2012 *Those allied to the Houthi rebel movement HOUTHIs: *Shi'a militia group... backed by Iran *Saudi Arabia sponsored air strikes against Houthis to take back Sana'a for Hadi *2014: Houthis captured Sana'a (NOW, Hadi's defacto capital in Aden) Problems for Hadi Today: Al Qaeda Houthis Continuing loyalty of many military officers to Saleh Corruption Unemployment Food insecurity 4
Capital: Cairo Economy: 2nd largest economy in the Arab world Largest population in the Arab world History: Leader of the Arab world (cultural, political, Pan Arab... Championed by former President Nasser) First country to make peace with Israel Former President Anwar Sadat assassinated (1981) Mubarak in power after Sadat... Emergency Law... used this to keep power for duration Government Pre Former President Hosni Mubarak (in power for 30 years!) Date: February 11th/ Mubarak stepped down in 18 days! *2ND COUNTRY TO DEPOSE DICTATOR! Causes: Success in Tunisia // Mubarak's oppressive gov't and rigged elections // unemployment // brutality of police & army Protests: Held in Tahrir Square // Used SOCIAL MEDIA (fb page who is Khaled Said... killed by police) Results: Mubarak stepped down after 18 days! Arab Spring left a legacy of Islamist v military Today: *Mohammed Morsi elected president as of May 2012 ISLAMIST... Muslim Brotherhood party/ Freedom & Justice party is the Muslim Brotherhood's political branch *Anniversary of his election, protest against him! (Secular protests, demanding his removal!) Did not reverse failing economy becoming authoritarian pushed through an unpopular constitution *Ousted by military July 3, 2013: significance {Egypt's first democratically elected President [52%] was OUSTED by the military} *Abdel Fattah al Sisi elected president in May 2014. *Egypt's Deep State Def: A democracy with a powerful military that will step in and intervene Egypt's Deep State: 1) Military (strongest) 2) Judiciary 3) Police 4) Media 5
Capital: Damascus Economy: {Devastated since civil war} Independence: From France in 1946 History: al Assad Famiy has ruled since 1970 Hafez al Assad (Bashir's father) in power from 1970 2000 (assassinated) Brother Basil, who was groomed to rule as "president" was killed in a car crash Thus, Bashir al Assad in power from 2000 today. *Alawite! Secret Shi'a Sect *Member of the socialist Baath Party (which has been in power since 1963) Date: Large protest began in January 2011 Causes: Corruption of al Assad's {they have been in power for too long!}/ Success in Tunisia & Egypt Protests: Civil War Gov't vs rebel groups *Gov't, led by Bashir al Assad, used chemical weapons *Many different rebel groups Most influential is the Free Syrian Army (FSA) * http://www.bbc.com/news/world middle east 24403003 Results: Civil war is STILL OCCURRING NOW Today: Due to instability, terrorism is RIFE in the country: ISIS *LARGEST HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN THE WORLD TODAY 23 million Syrians **400,000+ dead **6 million Syrian refugees **8 million IDPs =62% of Syrian population! International involvement: *Russia & Iran supports al Assad *USA, UK, France, Turkey, Gulf States support rebels 6
Attachments http://www.bbc.com/news/world middle east 24403003